Spanish aircraft carrier Principe de Asturias

The Principe de Asturias (R 11) is the only active aircraft carrier of the Spanish navy. She is the flagship of the fleet and together with her escort frigates makes up Alpha group. She was built to replace the ageing Dédalo[?].

The carrier air arm is made up of twelve AV-8B Harrier IIs and twelve helicopters, usually a mix of Sikorsky and Agusta models. Due to the STOL aircraft the off-axis flight deck is only 175.3 metres long and includes a characteristic "ski-jump" end section.

Propulsion is from two General Electric gas turbines, each generating 34.6 MW (around 46,000 shp together). Driving a single propellor the ship is capable of a maximum 27 knots and can cruise at 20 knots with a range of around 6,500 nm.

The carrier defences are an European version of the US CIWS system, the FABA Meroka, and also an eight cell Harpoon missile system. Counter-measures are provided by a Sippican SRBOC system which can fire either chaff[?] or flares, there is also a towed torpedo decoy system.

The carrier was built by Empresa Nacional Bazán (now Izar[?]), the design was adapted from the US Sea Control Ship[?] plan and finalized in 1977. The keel was laid down at the Ferrol[?] yard in 1979 and the completed hull was launched in 1982. Changing naval requirements meant that many of the ship systems had to be altered with the addition of a Tritan Digital Command and Control System. She did not entered active service until May 30, 1988 and was returned to the naval yards for refitting as early as 1990.

• Length: 196 m
• Beam: 24.3 m (waterline)
• Height: 9.4 m
• Displacement: 17,190 tons (fully loaded), 13,400 tons (empty)
• Propulsion: 2 of GE LM 2500 turbines COGAG
• Crew: 764

External link

• NATO photo Ref. no.: 16474-27, 893Kb (http://www.nato.int/pictures/database/large/b00691.jpg)